The Legislation of 1842
The Mines Act of 1842 prohibited all females and boys under ten years old from working underground in coal mines. This law was put into place in response to the poor working conditions of the factories,which were revealed by the Children's Employment Commission report. Before this legislation men, women, and children were working in brutal conditions. Women and children worked underground for 11-12 hours a day for lower wages then men. A big accident that caused the death of 26 children, 11 of which were girls brought the issue to the forefront of Parliament's problems. After the act was put in place No female could be employed underground and no boy under 10 years old was to be employed underground.